Start ransomware: what it is and how to remove it
Start ransomware, also known as [Starter@cumallover.me].Start ransomware, is a newly released Dharma ransomware variant that has been first spotted and announced by Jakub Kroustek. He created a Twitter post regarding this new malware variant and provided a VirusTotal hyperlink where the malicious payload has been detected by 57 AV engines out of a total 70.
Facts checked October 7, 2026. Removal steps tested on Windows 11 (26H2) and checked against Microsoft's and the browser makers' current documentation. Sections marked as our earlier report are the original text: they describe the threat as it was then and have not been reviewed since. The 2026 status, the removal steps and the questions are current.
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Start the steps
Start ransomware: summary
| Distribution | The infection can be spread via vulnerable RDP configuration (TCP port 3389), p2p networks such as The Pirate Bay, and phishing emails that pretend to come from reliable shipping companies, for example, DHL or FedEx |
|---|---|
| Name | Start ransomware |
| Type | Ransomware virus/malware |
| Family | Dharma ransomware |
| Appendix | Once the ransomware virus launches the unique encryption module, all locked files end up with the starter@cumallover.me appendix |
| Ransom note | The malware provides ransom demands via the starter@cumallover; the text is quoted in full below |
| Removal | Scan the PC with security software to find and remove the malware and anything installed with it. Fortect scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. Remove it nowTo use the full-featured product, you have to purchase a license for Fortect. The scan is free. |
Show 12 more facts
| Detection names | Trojan.Ransom.Crysis.E, Win32:RansomX-gen [Ransom], Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Crusis.to, Ransom.Crysis, etc.; no Microsoft detection name is known for this name |
|---|---|
| Found by | Findings related to Start virus were first released by Jakub Kroustek on Twitter social network |
| Contact | starter@cumallover.me, Starter@cumallover.me |
| Encrypted file extension | .start |
| Decryptor | No free decryptor is known for this variant; check No More Ransom (nomoreransom.org) for updates |
| Damage | Not recorded in the old report |
| Symptoms | Files renamed with a new extension and a ransom note left in folders |
| Evidence | 5 write-ups by security sites; no sample analysed yet |
| Encrypted files | .start |
| Free decryptor | No free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026) |
| First seen | 31 October 2019 |
| Facts checked | 7 October 2026 |
- File extension:
.start - Note file:
the ransom note
From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since
More from our earlier report on Start ransomware
- The malware provides ransom demands via the starter@cumallover.me pop-up window and the RETURN FILES.txt message
- Trojan.Ransom.Crysis.E, Win32:RansomX-gen , Trojan-Ransom.Win32.Crusis.to, Ransom.Crysis, etc.
- To remove Start virus, you will need an anti-spyware tool
How Start ransomware behaves
From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since
Use manual and automatical protection to avoid ransomware attacks
There are more measures for avoiding ransomware infections than you might think of.
First of all, get a reliable antimalware product that will guard your computer system 24/7. Do not be afraid to invest in a trustworthy program that will be able to scan your machine regularly, provide safe browsing, and threat detection.
Continuously, you should learn how to correctly sort out all of your emails. First, always check the sender and it looks like a non-existing email address, better delete the message right away. Furthermore, look for grammar mistakes through the entire message text and if you find lots of them, you can be sure that no reliable company will make that much.
Additionally, if you receive any clipped attachments, you should scan each file or document with an antimalware product to ensure that the content is safe for opening or downloading. To continue, you should pay a lot of attention to what types of networks you are visiting as some of them might include malicious objects due to the lack of protection in them.
Furthermore, keep all of your programs regularly updated, especially your antivirus software. Do not get tricked by fake updates as you can check their original releases on official websites and see if it is a true upgrade you are about to make.
From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since
The most common ransomware distribution sources
Ransomware infections get through vulnerable RDPs that hold weak passwords or none at all.
Hackers misuse ports such as the TCP port 3389 and remotely connect to the targeted computer system to plant the malicious payload.
Also, some cyber criminals get involved in email spam campaigns and camouflage as reliable shipping companies, e.g. FedEx/DHL, or reputable banking organizations, healthcare firms, etc. These people attach malicious files or insert infectious hyperlinks that are supposed to launch the ransomware payload.
Furthermore, malware can get easily distributed through unsecured p2p networks such as The Pirate Bay, by installing fake software updates, various software cracks, infected hyperlinks/advertisements, exploit kits, etc.
From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since
Start ransomware - a new form of Dharma ransomware that displays a ransom-demanding pop-up named starter@cumallover.me
Start ransomware, also known as [Starter@cumallover.me].Start ransomware, is a newly released Dharma ransomware variant that has been first spotted and announced by Jakub Kroustek.
He created a Twitter post regarding this new malware variant and provided a VirusTotal hyperlink where the malicious payload has been detected by 57 AV engines out of a total 70. Once files are locked by Start virus, they end up with the .[starter@cumallover.me].start appendix. Continuously, the ransomware displays the starter@cumallover.me pop-up window or the RETURN FILES.txt message which holds information regarding ransom demands and the decryption software.
Start ransomware does not provide particular demands although the money has to be transferred in Bitcoin cryptocurrency in order to ensure the anonymity of the entire process. This decreases the crook's chances of getting caught. However, this also means that the victims will not be able to return their money back also.
Usually, criminals demand a ransom between $100 and $2000 in BTC. However, Start ransomware only offers to send them one small file for free decryption as evidence of the decryption key's existence, provides information on how to get Bitcoins. and threatens the victims not to try self-decrypting data or it might get permanently destroyed:
Start ransomware is a tricky threat that might hold various infectious modules in its database. This means that the virus might be able to delete Shadow Volume Copies by executing specific PowerShell commands, damaging the Windows hosts file to prevent access to security-related websites and forums.
Besides, Start ransomware places suspicious entries and files in the Windows Task Manager and Registry sections. Also, you might discover random executable files in directories such as %AppData% and %LocalAppData%. Remember that all of this content needs to be wiped during the Start ransomware removal process.
If you do not eliminate all the dangerous products injected, Start ransomware might renew itself within the next computer boot process. Additionally, the malicious infection can result in the infiltration of other malware such as trojans, worms, cryptocurrency mining apps, spyware programs, and other types of computer viruses.
Start ransomware has been designed to attack the most used Windows computer systems such as Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10. Regarding the language which is used in the ransom note, the file-encrypting malware targets English-speaking people or users that are located in English-speaking countries.
If you do not remove Start ransomware on time, you will have to face lots of damaging consequences, including an increasing amount of encrypted files. Additionally, you should try using after the elimination process as this tool might be capable of fixing virus leftover files. Note that it cannot decrypt encrypted files as it is not a decrypter. For that, keep up with StopDecrypter updates.
Keep in mind that you should avoid paying any ransom to Start ransomware criminals as you might get easily scammed by these people and have to face huge monetary losses. Even though there is no official decryption tool released yet, you can try some other data recovery solutions that are added to the end of this article.
The Start ransomware note
All your files have been encrypted!
All your files have been encrypted due to a security problem with your PC. If you want to restore them, write us to the e-mail starter@cumallover.me
Write this ID in the title of your message
In case of no answer in 24 hours write us to these e-mails: starter@cumallover.me
You have to pay for decryption in Bitcoins. The price depends on how fast you write to us. After payment we will send you the decryption tool that will decrypt all your files.
Free decryption as guarantee
Before paying you can send us up to 1 file for free decryption. The total size of files must be less than 1Mb (non archived), and files should not contain valuable information. (databases,backups, large excel sheets, etc.)
How to obtain Bitcoins
The easiest way to buy bitcoins is LocalBitcoins site. You have to register, click 'Buy bitcoins', and select the seller by payment method and price.
https://localbitcoins.com/buy_bitcoins
Also you can find other places to buy Bitcoins and beginners guide here:
http://www.coindesk.com/information/how-can-i-buy-bitcoins/
Attention!
Do not rename encrypted files.
Do not try to decrypt your data using third party software, it may cause permanent data loss.
Decryption of your files with the help of third parties may cause increased price (they add their fee to our) or you can become a victim of a scam.
How to remove Start ransomware
Tools you'll need
All of these are free except where noted. Download them on a clean device if the infected PC is offline.
- A USB stick: to keep the ransom note, two or three encrypted files and screenshots off the infected PC.
- Microsoft Defender Offline: built into Windows 11 and Windows 10; scans before Windows starts, so running malware cannot hide.
- Microsoft Safety Scanner: a second, portable scanner with current signatures; each download works for 10 days.
- ID Ransomware: identifies the family from the note and one encrypted file and says whether a decryptor exists.
- No More Ransom: the free decryptors from police and security companies; check it again every few months.
- Fortect (optional): scans Windows for malware and repairs the system files and settings it damaged. The free scan is in the box above.
How to remove Start ransomware and get your files back
Work in this order.
Disconnecting comes first, removal comes before any restore, and nothing here asks you to contact the attackers.
Step 1: Disconnect the PC and unplug backup drives
Unplug the network cable or turn off Wi-Fi, and disconnect USB drives, external disks and network shares, so Start ransomware cannot reach more files. Pause OneDrive, Google Drive or Dropbox sync, because synced folders upload the encrypted copies over the good ones.
Leave the PC on but offline while you read the next steps, since a restart can let the ransomware run again. This applies to Windows 11 and Windows 10 alike.
Windows 11: turn off Wi-Fi to take the PC offline. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 2: Save the ransom note and confirm the family
Your files now end in
.startand the instructions are inthe ransom note. Save both to a USB stick, a copy of the note and two small encrypted files, before anything else.On another device, check them with ID Ransomware or Crypto Sheriff: the family name decides which decryptor, if any, can help. Keep the note's ID and contact line for your report.
Windows 11: the ransom note and encrypted files to copy for identification. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 3: Check for a free decryptor
Our last check found that for Start ransomware, no free decryptor is known (checked 7 October 2026). Look again yourself in the No More Ransom list and the free decryptor pages of Emsisoft, Avast and Kaspersky, which add new families every year.
A decryptor needs the ransomware gone first, or it encrypts the files again. Keep at least one copy of the encrypted files on an external drive, even if no tool works yet.
Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 4: Remove the ransomware before you restore or decrypt
Removing Start ransomware does not bring the files back, but it has to come first. Start with Defender's Full scan, then the offline scan from the same Scan options page, which checks the disk before Windows loads.
If the scan cannot start, use Safe Mode with Networking. Delete the ransom notes only after you have saved a copy, because removal tools sometimes leave them behind on Windows 11 and Windows 10.
Windows 11: Windows Security > Virus & threat protection > Scan options. Full procedure with screenshots: Run a Microsoft Defender Offline scan
Step 5: Look for shadow copies of the files
Windows keeps shadow copies for restore points and backups, and some ransomware fails to delete them.
vssadmin list shadowsin an administrator Command Prompt tells you at once whether any exist.If they do, right-click the folder that held your files, open Properties > Previous Versions, select a version from before the attack, and click Open to check it before you Restore or copy the files out. Windows 11 and Windows 10 both have the tab.
Windows 11: vssadmin list shadows shows whether shadow copies exist. Full procedure with screenshots: Ransomware: first steps, finding a decryptor and recovering files
Step 6: Restore the files from a backup or recover deleted originals
A backup made before the attack is the surest way back. Connect it only once the PC is clean, then restore from File History, Windows Backup, OneDrive's Restore your OneDrive or your own external copies.
Without a backup, try file recovery: the originals that Start ransomware deleted may still be on the disk until something overwrites them. Install nothing new on the drive you want to recover from on the Windows 11 or Windows 10 PC.
Full procedure with screenshots: Recover deleted files (Recycle Bin, backups, OneDrive) On uGetFix
Instructions for each browser and system
The detailed steps for every browser and system this guide covers. Open the one you use.
Manual removal using Safe Mode
Important! →
Manual removal guide might be too complicated for regular computer users. It requires advanced IT knowledge to be performed correctly (if vital system files are removed or damaged, it might result in full Windows compromise), and it also might take hours to complete. Therefore, we highly advise using the automatic method provided above instead.
Step 1. Access Safe Mode with Networking
Manual malware removal should be best performed in the Safe Mode environment.
Windows 7 / Vista / XP
- Click Start > Shutdown > Restart > OK.
- When your computer becomes active, start pressing F8 button (if that does not work, try F2, F12, Del, etc. - it all depends on your motherboard model) multiple times until you see the Advanced Boot Options window.
- Select Safe Mode with Networking from the list.
Windows 10 / Windows 8
- Right-click on Start button and select Settings.
- Scroll down to pick Update & Security.
- On the left side of the window, pick Recovery.
- Now scroll down to find Advanced Startup section.
- Click Restart now.
- Select Troubleshoot.
- Go to Advanced options.
- Select Startup Settings.
- Press Restart.
- Now press 5 or click 5) Enable Safe Mode with Networking.
Step 2. Shut down suspicious processes
Windows Task Manager is a useful tool that shows all the processes running in the background. If malware is running a process, you need to shut it down:
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Click on More details.
- Scroll down to Background processes section, and look for anything suspicious.
- Right-click and select Open file location.
- Go back to the process, right-click and pick End Task.
- Delete the contents of the malicious folder.
Step 3. Check program Startup
- Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc on your keyboard to open Windows Task Manager.
- Go to Startup tab.
- Right-click on the suspicious program and pick Disable.
Step 4. Delete virus files
Malware-related files can be found in various places within your computer. Here are instructions that could help you find them:
- Type in Disk Cleanup in Windows search and press Enter.
- Select the drive you want to clean (C: is your main drive by default and is likely to be the one that has malicious files in).
- Scroll through the Files to delete list and select the following:
Temporary Internet Files
Downloads
Recycle Bin
Temporary files - Pick Clean up system files.
- You can also look for other malicious files hidden in the following folders (type these entries in Windows Search and press Enter):
%AppData%
%LocalAppData%
%ProgramData%
%WinDir%
After you are finished, reboot the PC in normal mode.
From our report of Oct 2019 · not reviewed since
Removal of Start ransomware explained in details
Start ransomware removal can be performed only automatically.
According to computer specialists from LesVirus.fr, manual elimination is not possible in this case as it is too dangerous to take the entire process in your own hands as you might skip crucial components and leave the malware in the system.
You can remove Start ransomware with the help of , or . Once you do so, you need to be sure that no malicious products are left in the system. For this purpose, try using software such as , as the malware might be able to corrupt registry entries and similar components.
Additionally, if Start virus appears hard to remove because it is blocking antivirus access or something else important, you should enable Safe Mode with Networking or activate System Restore to prevent malicious processes from spreading further on your Windows computer.
[GI=method-1]Enable Safe Mode with Networking to deactivate malicious processes on your Windows computer system
[GI=method-2]Turn on System Restore to prevent the malware from spreading further. Use the below-provided steps to achieve this task
Try this software if Start ransomware has locked, corrupted, or deleted any of your files
Employ Windows Previous Versions feature to restore some individual files
Use this tool for file recovery if you have activated the System Restore feature in the past
Try using Shadow Explorer for file recovery purposes
You can employ this tool if you are looking forward to recovering some data files. However, make sure that the ransomware virus did not eliminate Shadow Volume Copies of locked data, otherwise, this method might seem unuseful
Currently, no official decryption key has been released for Start ransomware encrypted files
Report it and recover your files
Report it
Report the attack even if you do not expect the files back: insurers and banks ask for the report number, and police use the contacts in the note to link cases.
- United States
- FBI IC3 · FTC ReportFraud
- United Kingdom
- Report Fraud (formerly Action Fraud) · NCSC
- Australia
- ReportCyber (ASD)
- EU countries
- Europol: national reporting sites
Give the victim ID, the note and the date the files were encrypted. A business that holds personal data may also have to notify its data protection authority, in the EU within 72 hours.
Make the next attack harmless
Start ransomware could only hurt the files that had no second copy, and the signs (files that end in .start and no longer open) showed exactly which ones those were.
The 3-2-1 rule fixes that:
- three copies
- two media
- one disconnected
A practical version for a home PC: OneDrive or another cloud backup with version history, plus an external disk that you plug in once a week for File History and then unplug. Test a restore now and then by opening a few files from the backup on another device.
Details, schedules and what not to back up are in our 3-2-1 backup guide for Windows.
Choose a proper web browser and improve your safety with a VPN tool
Online spying has got momentum in recent years and people are getting more and more interested in how to protect their privacy online.
One of the basic means to add a layer of security - choose the most private and secure web browser. Although web browsers can't grant full privacy protection and security, some of them are much better at sandboxing, HTTPS upgrading, active content blocking, tracking blocking, phishing protection, and similar privacy-oriented features.
However, if you want true anonymity, we suggest you employ a powerful VPN - it can encrypt all the traffic that comes and goes out of your computer, preventing tracking completely.
Lost your files? Use data recovery software
While some files located on any computer are replaceable or useless, others can be extremely valuable.
Family photos, work documents, school projects - these are types of files that we don't want to lose. Unfortunately, there are many ways how unexpected data loss can occur:
- power cuts
- Blue Screen of Death errors
- hardware failures
- crypto-malware attack
- even accidental deletion
To ensure that all the files remain intact, you should prepare regular data backups. You can choose cloud-based or physical copies you could restore from later in case of a disaster. If your backups were lost as well or you never bothered to prepare any, can be your only hope to retrieve your invaluable files.
Questions about Start ransomware
Should I pay the ransom in the ransom note?
Not before you have tried everything else. Identify the family from the ransom note and one encrypted file, check No More Ransom for a free decryptor, and look for clean copies in OneDrive, backups and Previous Versions.
Paying funds further attacks, may be illegal if the group is sanctioned, and is no promise of a working key: many victims get partial or broken decryption. If you consider paying for business-critical data, involve the police and a professional incident responder first, and never pay through intermediaries who promise their own decryption.
How do I open .start files?
You cannot open them by renaming or by choosing another program. The .start ending shows that Start ransomware encrypted the content, and only the matching key can reverse it. Renaming a file back to .docx or .jpg changes nothing except the icon, and it can confuse a future decryptor, so leave the names as they are.
To get the content back, use a backup, an unencrypted copy elsewhere, or a decryptor listed on No More Ransom if one exists for Start ransomware. Store the encrypted files on an external disk until then.
Is there a free Start ransomware decryptor?
We last checked on 7 October 2026, and for Start ransomware no free decryptor is known. We check No More Ransom, which collects free tools from police and security companies, and the decryptor pages of the major antivirus vendors. A working decryptor exists only when the encryption has a flaw or the keys were leaked or seized.
Ignore sites and videos that offer a "Start ransomware decryptor" for download or for a fee: these are usually scams or malware. Real decryptors are free and come from known security companies or law enforcement. Keep the encrypted files in case a tool appears later.
Can a data-recovery company decrypt my files for a fee?
Only if a decryptor already exists or the company pays the attackers for you. Some "ransomware recovery" services advertise that they can decrypt families with no known flaw; in practice they negotiate with the attackers and add their own fee. Others use the same free tools listed on No More Ransom.
Before you hire anyone, ask in writing how they will recover the files, whether they will contact the attackers and what happens if they fail. A legitimate service answers clearly. If a free decryptor exists for your family, you can run it yourself.
How did Start ransomware get on my computer?
The way Start ransomware spreads has not been documented yet, so look at your own recent activity. On home PCs, ransomware most often comes with cracked programs, game cheats, key generators and fake updates, or with an e-mail attachment that was opened. On business networks, attackers usually log in through Remote Desktop with a stolen or guessed password.
Think back to what was downloaded or installed in the days before files that end in .start and no longer open, and check the Downloads folder and Installed apps sorted by date. Keep anything suspicious for your report, but do not run it again.
Did Start ransomware steal my files or passwords?
We do not know yet. Nothing published so far shows data theft by Start ransomware, but the only confirmed sign is files that end in .start and no longer open, which says nothing about what happened before. Many current ransomware attacks copy files or run a password stealer first, so it is wise to act as if they did.
From a clean device, change the passwords that were saved in the browsers on this PC, starting with e-mail and banking, sign out of all sessions and turn on two-step verification. Watch bank statements and account activity for the next few weeks.
Is Start ransomware the same as other ransomware with a similar name?
Not necessarily. Ransomware names come from the file extension, the note or a word in the code, so unrelated families often end up with similar names, and one family can appear under several names. The difference matters: a decryptor or advice for one family does not fit another and can damage files.
Compare the ending added to your files and the exact name of the note with the summary table at the top of this guide, then upload the note and one encrypted file to ID Ransomware from a clean device. If the result names another family, follow the guide for that family instead.
Can I just remove .start from the file names?
You can try it on a copy, but for real ransomware it will not help. The .start extension is only a label; the file content has been scrambled with a key the attackers hold.
If a renamed copy opens normally, the malware only renamed files, which happens with some fake ransomware, and you can rename the rest back. If it does not open, leave the files as they are. Renaming encrypted files can confuse a decryptor later, so always work on copies.
What does the ransom note tell me about the ransomware?
Quite a lot. The file name the ransom note, the wording, the contact addresses and the format of the personal ID are typical for each family. Uploading the note together with one encrypted file to ID Ransomware or No More Ransom's Crypto Sheriff usually names the family within seconds.
That name decides your options: some families have free decryptors, some can be partially recovered, and some cannot be decrypted at all. The note's claims about stolen data should be taken seriously but not at face value.
Will Fortect remove Start ransomware?
Fortect scans Windows for malware and unwanted programs and repairs the system files and settings they change, and its free scan shows what it finds on your PC before you decide anything.
For Start ransomware, follow the plan above as well: the browser steps take back permissions and settings that no scanner treats as a threat, and uninstalling the program that brought it removes the source.
Run Microsoft Defender's full scan and, if anything was found, its offline scan as a second opinion. If the symptoms are gone after the plan and both scans are clean, there is nothing more to do.
Sources
- JakubKroustek: '.start' - 'starter@cumallover.me' (read October 7, 2026)
- VirusTotal: d1609699ddfcc905ad6e88df90c0f3f87b34ee9ebd27a01d7eea58a95645565c 2895d1edbb5ea9793a18b9f447a82f16.virus (read October 7, 2026)
- Wikipedia: Shadow Copy (read October 7, 2026)
- LesVirus: LesVirus.fr (read October 7, 2026)
- CISA: StopRansomware (read October 7, 2026)